Ground broken, solar array reception Thursday at Gella’s

COLBY — Midwest Energy and Clean Energy Collective broke ground on their 3,960-panel, 1 megawatt community solar array Thursday morning north of Colby.

Midwest Energy President and General Manager Earnie Lehman told those assembled the array is being built in response to member demand for a solar option, and would be a capstone of the cooperative’s 75th anniversary.

Lehman also used the event to announce Midwest Energy is using a limited pool of funds to create a rebate program that lowers the price of the panels to $891. Midwest Energy members who have already reserved panels in the arrays are eligible, as well as members making new reservations.

City of Colby elected officials and Sen. Ralph Ostemeyer (in red) join Midwest Energy and Clean Energy Collective officials for the community solar groundbreaking Thursday morning in Colby.

Clean Energy Collective will hold a solar energy reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Gella’s Diner in Hays. The public is welcome to drop in and enjoy a bite, while getting their solar energy questions answered. No reservations are required.